Do you think 20 minutes/day workout is enough to stay fit and healty?

1. 61

   Conny88posted 13 years ago

   Do you think 20 minutes/day workout is enough to stay fit and healty?
   
   Many health professionals recommend a schedule as easy as 20 minutes workout a day. Do you think you can make this a daily routine and what would you recommend to do in this short period of time. Or do you think 20 minutes is much to short to see any positve results in health and fitness.

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2. 61

   tpshahposted 13 years ago

   To stay fit and healthy cardio is must.
   Cardio is that exercise which will increase metabolism of calorie burnig which includes running,cycling,swiming.
   per day 20 min cardion and 10 minutes exercises will be enough to stay fit and healthy.

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   1. 62

      joecsekoposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      WRONG!!! Firstly, it's 30 minutes of cardio, and at your target heart rate. That's 220 minus your age times 0.7. And "exercise" could be cardio. So, what exactly is your point?

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3. 60

   fucsiaposted 13 years ago

   if you do not need to lose weight, 20 minutes is enough. But if you have to lose weight is more useful an aerobic exercise, that exceeds 20 minutes

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4. 78

   Knowledge>Powerposted 13 years ago

   depends on your age, the older we get, the more exercise we need to maintain a fit body. This has alot to do with our metabolism as we age. If you only have 20 minutes, make it count with high intensity cardio.

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5. 87

   Sylvia Leongposted 13 years ago

   You can definitely get by on 20 minutes, 5 days a week.  If you're a beginner, you'll lose weight.  Otherwise, you'll want to think of this as a maintenance schedule.
   
   Cardio/aerobic exercise is NOT the most important form of exercise.
   
   Proper fitness is an equal mix of resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, stretching & proper nutrition.  Drop out one area, you won't be able to maintain optimum health for long.
   
   Cardio does NOT burn the most calories.  I can't believe so many people believe this!!!
   
   Big picture - over the long haul - it's the weight training that burns the most calories.  The bigger, denser & stronger you can make your muscles:
   The bigger, stronger, denser your bones will become.
   The bigger, stronger, denser your tendons will be.
   After your workout, your body spends approximately a week rebuilding your muscles, bones & tendons.  That burns calories!  Then your body has to feed this bigger, stronger, denser tissue.  That burns calories!
   
   You'll burn more calories just sleeping!
   
   Cardio is how we exercise our heart & lungs.  Yes, it burns calories while we're exercising & for approximately two hours afterwards.
   
   Are you starting to see the logic?
   
   
   No you DO NOT need to exercise more as you age. 
   
   Fact: after the age of 30, we lose approximately 1.5 lbs of muscle a year.  So each year you have less muscle burning calories.  This makes it seem as though you need to exercise more.
   
   SECRET: If you maintain your muscle mass through weight training, you never have to lose any muscle, no matter how old you get.
   
   Monday - swimming
   Tuesday - weight train upper body
   Wednesday - cycling
   Thursday - weight train lower body
   Friday - fast paced walking or running
   
   Remember to stretch after each workout.
   
   One last comment: You only have one body & it needs to last you a lifetime.  Make sure that you get your health advice from a qualified source.

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   1. 90

      cam8510posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent advice Sylvia

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   2. 62

      joecsekoposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I am SO happy right now! This thread is littered with comments and answers from people who clearly have no idea what they're talking about, Then I found your comment.
      Thank you for actually being qualified to answer this question.

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   3. 60

      Amazrock Brandsposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Great to know.. Have been trying high impact exercise routines to get in shape and keep fit. I do feel energised after a workout that lasts for more than half a day.

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      1. 62

         joecsekoposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         I haven't visited the site in so long. You, Sylvia are absolutely correct.
         I became a fan of yours some time ago, and it's because you dispel the misconceptions and rely on science.

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6. 47

   personaltrainingposted 13 years ago

   it's enough if you work hard enough.
   
   I created a 15 minute program a while back that was an absolute killer.
   
   Of course, we're assuming that your nutrition is good as well. If your diet is terrible it's very hard to make up for it with any amount of exercise.

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   1. 49

      sswanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree for the most part.  There are so many variables but if you are working hard, elevating your heartrate and doing some resistance training mixed in, as well as managing a healthy diet you should be in good shape.

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7. 68

   NJ's Ponderingsposted 13 years ago

   In order for 20 minutes of exercise to be enough to stay healthy and fit depends on your age and your fitness level. When I was younger, I almost always spent an hour or more a day exercising. Now, not so much because of my work load and so on. But as I am maturing, I am thinking I will have to go back to an hour a day to improve and maintain.
   
   As for whether or not I could stick to a 20-minute regiment a day, yeah, I think I could. But as I mentioned earlier, work tends to get into the way.
   
   What would I recommend in a 20-minute period? I have three suggestions: 1) combination of squats for the lower body and weights for the upper body, 2) walking, or 3) elliptic machine.
   
   Hope that helps

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8. 60

   webvidaonlineposted 12 years ago

   It DEFINITELY is. You just have to do high intensity, interval type workouts. This will increase your metabolism all day. But if you workout like this and then eat like a fatty you won't change anything. Exercise is only a small part of the battle - Nutrition is the golden key.

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   1. 62

      joecsekoposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      The questioner said nothing about weight loss, and you're completely wrong.

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9. 0

   askahealerposted 11 years ago

   I'd LOVE to believe it is enough.  And I think, if someone really is sedentary and needs to exercise, 20 minutes is certainly better than nothing.  But is it enough....I guess it might depend on the workout.  Highly structured and specific workouts targeting rapid results might work.  Would love it if someone weighed in who actually sees the results they seek on 20 minutes a day.  Would give me hope cause I don't ever see myself doing an hour.

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10. 73

    Sushma Webberposted 10 years ago

    It depends on what you are doing the rest of the day. If you have a desk job and are sitting for most of the day, then a 20-30 minutes workout will not help much. It has been found that sitting for long hours is the cause for heart ailments, diabetes, blood pressure, etc.
    
    The most important thing to do is stand up and move around for 2 minutes for every 20 minutes of sitting at the desk. The main thing is to remain active throughout the day. If you are able to do that then a 20 minute workout can be beneficial.
    
    Doing a daily yoga practice for 30 minutes at least is also helpful for improving flexibility and reducing stress.

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    1. 49

       rae35posted 8 years agoin reply to this

       I can so relate to this, but I do not have a desk job, no, just lazy bones...depression etc...I lay around all day, dnt sleep good...eat everything n site...but, week half ago..doc put me on HBp meds...now I know I've got to make changes...

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11. 90

    cam8510posted 10 years ago

    Fitness is progressive.  20 minutes a day will produce great results early on.  But to continue increasing ones fitness level, one of two new elements (or both) Will need to be added.   First is longer workouts.  The second is more resistance.  The first increases endurance and the second strength.   Resistance can be in the form of a faster pace or adding a hill to a walk or run. You could also raise the front of  the treadmill to mimic a hill.  Without adding resistance or workout duration, you will quickly plataeu in terms of fitness level.    Adding one or both of these elements will provide years of fitness growth.

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    1. 73

       Sushma Webberposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Good advice and a reminder for those who want to keep up their fitness levels.

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    2. 72

       Nolapeteposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       You can easily do the same 20 minute duration and increase intensity to continue getting results.  Additional time is not necessary.

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    3. 67

       Tusitala Tomposted 7 years agoin reply to this

       Good advice, Chris.  But two other aspects are important, muscle tone from strength exercises, and suppleness from yoga type stretching.  All three makes up a far better combination.

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    4. 90

       cam8510posted 7 years agoin reply to this

       True, nolapete.  I said either one or the other or both.   I agree with you on that.

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    5. 57

       Ahsan taha Khan11posted 7 years agoin reply to this

       it's all right every thing u said

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    6. 62

       joecsekoposted 7 years agoin reply to this

       "Fitness is progressive"? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Progressive resistance is progressive.

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    7. 94

       Kianeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

       Yes! I've been doing yoga routines / workouts for 1.5 year now. I started with 20 mins (every single morning), and then I felt like it wasn't enough, so for now, it takes me at least an hour to complete workout+yoga routine.

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12. 60

    AvineshPposted 10 years ago

    Well, it entirely depends on your health condition. I believe that at least half an hour should be given for daily workouts. In this half an hour, you have to ensure that you carry out varied types of exercises that can prove beneficial for the overall body growth.

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13. 69

    delaneyworldposted 10 years ago

    I think it is an excellent place to start.  There are so many people with chronic conditions, such as myself, that are unable to work out on bad days.  20 minutes a day would be extraordinary for me.  Under these circumstances, any extra movement is beneficial and can help to improve my health. 
    
    If a person is capable of doing more, that is fantastic!  Losing weight is on many minds and it's important to remember that the theory of weight loss is simple - burn more calories than you take in.  Putting that into effect is a bit harder, but can be done if you take it one step at a time. 
    
    There are so many ways to integrate movement and fitness into our daily routines.  I feel that 20 minutes is much much better than nothing and a great start to get on the path to feeling good.

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14. 37

    wqaindiaposted 10 years ago

    To Look Younger and Live Longer, I think 20 minutes workout a day is sufficient to keep your warm, keep blood circulation proper by better pumping by heart. It is just like getting the best performance from a motorised system. As regards me I get my diabetic level reduced by 50 points with 20 minutes brisk walking. But it may not hold good for everybody due to clinical conditions.

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15. 88

    Tolovajposted 10 years ago

    20 minutes is not enough in my opinion but it is a good start and probably 20 minutes more than most people spend on workout. Time is always a problem, so it is good idea to incorporate some kind of physical activity in daily tasks. While so called nano workouts are much better than nothing, full hour of some kind of cardio oriented training at least once (make it twice) a week is almost a must to keep your heart fit.
    
    Do something with weights too and you are on your way!

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16. 80

    leakeemposted 10 years ago

    Of course, I think it is enough. Just make sure you eat a balanced diet and do endurance and strength exercises. For example MWF you do more strength exercises and the rest of the week you do aerobics.

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17. 61

    Nishat Bangarhposted 10 years ago

    It totaly depends upon your metabolism, your age, what type of schedule you are following, your diet, your daily routine.. only workout camt keep you fit and healthy . To achieve high fitness levels it takes to be on proper diet , good workout schedule, good sleeping habbits etc etc...

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18. 53

    icvposted 10 years ago

    20 minutes is a average time.In my opinion a person can do more when he acquire more energy from food. Many sports players are there who are practicing about 15 hours a day. As a common man 20 minutes is enough if  the person is not active in anything.

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19. 50

    Ann810posted 10 years ago

    I think 20 minutes of exercise daily is good to maintain a healthy and fit body. Also when adding healthy foods choices and avoid too much sugary foods, the workout won't be in vain. Results will eventually began to show in about 3 month of working out. But to maintain the results of 20 minute workout, I would do "At-Home Workouts" and use an exercise ball for doing sit-ups as well.

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20. 89

    William15posted 10 years ago

    I think 20 minutes is a day is a fantastic investment. You can certainly achieve and obtain fitness with this daily commitment. You need to be consistent and you need to increase your intensity as needed, but there are real benefits to working out for 20 minutes a day.

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21. 48

    kaddy2777posted 10 years ago

    absolutely!!
    only thing that really matters is a daily workout ...it shouldn't be exhausting
    Drink plenty of water this will help more

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22. 60

    queenie99posted 10 years ago

    It all depends on your goal, whether it is to become muscular, better performance in sports, lose weight etc.
    20 minutes workout is good for beginners. But one should definitely make it at least 45 minutes as it is the optimum duration of a workout.
    
    Feel free to check out my hubs for more about fitness.

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    1. 49

       rae35posted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Ty what if ur doc says u have hbp n puts on meds...he told me 30 min but 10 min I feel faint, etc...I lay around all day n dnt sleep well etc..now hbp problems...is there a way to get rid of this blood pressure problem?

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23. 61

    ChelseaTommoposted 9 years ago

    For me, 20 minutes is enough. I mean even a 7 minutes daily exercise could help you maintain and have positive results for your health and fitness. Hope it helps

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24. 91

    mikejhcaposted 9 years ago

    20 minutes a day is long enough to see positive results but 20 minute routines tend to get boring. Another problem is that your muscles will not be much good for other activities. There are not a lot of things worth doing that take 20 minutes or less. It takes me an hour to bike to the closest beach and 45 minutes to go for a nice hike in the woods.
    
    If you want to look at yourself in the mirror than 20 minutes is probably enough but it will be hard to stay motivated. If you want to feel a sense of accomplishment and have fun then train to do something. I am training to bike 37 miles to one of the best beaches in Canada.
    
    Mentally 20 minutes a day is not enough for me. Like most people I need big goals and big rewards.

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25. 82

    Jason Matthewsposted 9 years ago

    If you are trying to prepare for an athletic competition, 20 minutes per day is not going to be enough. However, for the purposes of health and fitness, I do believe 20 minutes is adequate. Many people make staying fit more complicated than it needs to be. Simply doing the following every day can help you improve or maintain a healthy fitness level:
    -run 2 miles (walking or jogging 1.5 miles is a good place to start if you are not ready to run 2 miles)
    -do 50 push-ups (this might be a stretch at first, but you can work your way up)
    -do 100 crunches/sit-ups
    Let's face it: we are all busy. This is a simple way to stay fit and it is something you can do in roughly 20-25 minutes. Make it a part of your daily routine and I believe you will be satisfied with the results.

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26. 58

    lostohanababyposted 9 years ago

    It helps to be committed to your body and health, at all times.  It shows, when you give up or won't do any form of exercise.  In many ways changes take place and remold you from head to toe, without you realizing it or even seeing it, not for a while at least.  I don't do as many exercises that I once did when I was say twenty years younger, but I still take time to walk, even if I pace myself and walk through my apartment about 200 times on a rainy day, when I can't go out.   I have lesser leg muscle spasms and aches in my arms and shoulders when I take a few minutes away fom the computer and exercise them.  So, I can feel comfortable at whatever I may do or any where I may go.  I can feel relaxed.  Yoga, daily is a plus and Tai Chi, is great.   And diet, and hours you try to sleep, helps your health too.

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27. 50

    padmendraposted 9 years ago

    In my view ,15 minutes daily exercise is a good option to remain healthy. With going daily 15 minutes physical exercise will have a reduced risk of cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes and other fatal diseases. If the practice is followed sincerely, there will be very less issues involving physical fitness and one can rely on  it, if the time is short or the lifestyle does not allow more time.

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28. 0

    swilliamsposted 9 years ago

    I've been wondering about this question myself. I've seen ad's on t.v. in which people are jumping around for 20-25 minutes. I've tried working out for 30 min a day and it seemed to work a little. I say try what works best for your body.

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    1. 58

       lostohanababyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       agree.  on days when I feel good, I try to complete 30 to 45 minutes of low impact ..at home exercises..just to keep from feeling stiff and cramp..I still do tai chi and some yoga, too.

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    2. 62

       joecsekoposted 7 years agoin reply to this

       "ad's"? You're a writer, but you don't know that an apostrophe doesn't pluralize a word? Not just that, but your answer offers nothing.

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29. 76

    Oztinatoposted 9 years ago

    That is way enough!
    There is plenty of research to show that over exercising can cause physical damage.

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30. 61

    JulieMProvostposted 9 years ago

    Yes I do. This makes it a lot easier to work out everyday and make it apart of your lifestyle. I know some people enjoy working out for much longer but 20-30 minutes works really well for me. I also don't feel like I am burning myself out.

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31. 81

    mdscogginsposted 9 years ago

    Well it is recommended to workout 3-4 times a week for one hour, so that is 3-4 hours per week.  By using the 20 minute daily method that would equate to 2 hours and 20 minutes.  Depending on the intensity of the workout I can see it working.  However, spending 20 minutes on the treadmill does not seem sufficient, but if participating in something like plyometrics I can see it working.

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32. 96

    CWanamakerposted 9 years ago

    It depends on several factors including what kind of exercise is performed and at what level of intensity. It also depends on the person as well.

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33. 58

    DiscoInfernoposted 9 years ago

    Well, at least 20 minuts workout is better than nothing. But if you can spend more time at your workout, you should exercise for an hour.

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34. 76

    daisyjaeposted 9 years ago

    I think it depends on what else you do for the rest of your day. If you lay around on the couch all day, or sit at a desk for eight hours a day, then probably not. If you have a very physical job and all you have energy for is a short workout, it is probably enough to get fit.
    You do need to work out hard, though, for a 20 minute workout to be effective.

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35. 60

    akr3posted 9 years ago

    yes i think 20 min is enough for  fit body. but if you want to make yourself as a bodybuilder than 20 min is insufficient . in 2o min you can jogging . 30push up in 2 set and 5-8 min for abdominal excise . that is enough for fit body.

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36. 75

    arijitm2000posted 9 years ago

    On the outset it seems 'not enough'. But then, it entirely depends on the current health condition and needs of the particular person in question. If you're reasonably healthy, fit, flexible, energetic to carry on with your work life, personal life, family & friends with elan, & still find time & energy for creative aspirations..& of course manage to look good (not model/actor good bcuz thas their life not ours) in doing all of it...then 20 mins of stretching/walking/running/yoga etc. can be just as good as any "healthy lifestyle". Be Healthy, Be Cool!

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37. 58

    Jasdeep-Singhposted 9 years ago

    I think 20 minutes workout in any form whether swimming, gym,running farming etc ets is always better than never

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38. 60

    msdieliseposted 9 years ago

    For people who just started to get in shape, yes, 20 minutes is enough to prevent over fatigue.

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39. 72

    Elizabeth Bowersposted 9 years ago

    I think that if you're working out at least 4 or 5 days a week, 20 minutes is definitely enough.  Depending on how frequently you exercise during the week, the amount of time on the days you exercise should vary.  But I'm probably not the expert here - I just got into walking daily after spending much of my life preferring not to get much exercise, which, I can tell you with full confidence, is not a very good thing to do!

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40. 88

    Kathleen Odenthalposted 9 years ago

    Its better than nothing! I think small goals is the best way to start exercising and then you can build from there once the 20 minutes becomes a regular habit

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41. 37

    edhanposted 9 years ago

    That's the minimum amount of time to burn some fats as well as workout your heart.
    
    Personally I believe that even 10 minutes of exercise is worth than not doing it at all.

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42. 93

    Lovelli Fuadposted 9 years ago

    That is a really interesting point that you are making. A 20-minute a day workout plan is a general time-based activity that is considered a simple enough rule to follow. The frequency of the workout, whether they be 2 or 3 times a week, depends on your schedule and routines. I think if you have a busy lifestyle, you don't really have to workout every day, because your daily activity is already physically nurturing your growth.

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43. 61

    Bellas blog18posted 9 years ago

    15 minutes of work out will make you live longer then you normal arverage

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44. 59

    ratnaveeraposted 9 years ago

    As already said by many of our people,  we can expect a nice result from 20 minutes workout a day. In my experience, it would be always better than doing nothing in our daily routine. We can also manage with different types of body exercises like cycling, jogging, swimming and skipping. Even we can take rest for a while in that 20 minutes course.

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45. 60

    johnmicheal80911posted 9 years ago

    In the beginning 20 minutes workout a day is enough, but when you make it a routine 20 minutes are not enough to be really fit.
    In my opinion 40 to 50 minutes of constant workout is enough not only for being fit but also to be healthy.

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46. 61

    Horia Popposted 9 years ago

    I'm not a health professional, but I don't think 20 minutes a day is the magic number in this case. And I speak from personal experience. About 10 years ago I was overweight so I decided to start working out, and lose a few pounds.
    Nothing too fancy, some light jogging, sit ups, push ups, crunches. In the beginning I had a fixed workout schedule. When I stepped on the scale after a good two weeks, I noticed I'd gained in weight, even though I'd been eating rationally, and exercising regulalry.
    The problem was that my body had gotten used to a certain way of working, and it quickly adapted to my training regiment, calibrating my metabolism to preserve more nutrients than before. The key is to never let your body get used to the effort.
    Of course, that's not necessarily a universal rule. Some have a more stubborn metabolism than others. It also depends on genetic factors, the state of health, eating habbits, stress, mental disposition.
    Naturally 20 - 30 minutes of physical exercise are good for everyone, especially for those with a sedentary lifestyle, but if you want superior results, you literally need to put a lot of muscle into it.

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47. 78

    nanderson500posted 9 years ago

    I think if you're doing twenty minutes of exercise a day, then you're already far ahead of what most people are doing. Twenty minutes may not seem like much, but it's a lot better than the zero most people do. If you use the twenty minutes well, and stick to it every day, then I think it will significantly help you stay fit and healthy.

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48. 70

    snerfuposted 9 years ago

    Absolutely. Working out for longer periods actually can be detrimental. Your body gets conditioned to long strenuous exercises and if you stop exercising, you metabolism sits down. Though this does not reflect negatively, it can be a damper sometimes.
    Workout for short durations like 10 minutes or thereabouts is easy to do, daily and that is the important thing. Regular exercise keeps your metabolism up and roaring. It keeps you fit.

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    1. 62

       joecsekoposted 7 years agoin reply to this

       Haha, that's SO wrong. You actually got everything in your answer wrong.

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49. 61

    Cram Nedsmarposted 9 years ago

    High intensity work outs for 20 minutes will be more effective than an hour of aerobic exercise. Look in to interval training for details, but in short our bodies seem to respond very well to brief but intense exercise in many healthy ways.
    So bottom line is, so long as you get that heart rate up and push hard, 20 minutes is enough to have a healthy body and mind.

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50. 49

    AlexMozingoposted 9 years ago

    Yes you can do more but that should be enough to get your blood flowing

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